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Maui Media Lab Electronic Media Arts & Science

High School Curriculum Glossary

Copyright 2001, Maui Media Lab

Memory

Memory is used by the computer when it is powered on to run software applications and hold documents, images, audio and video projects actively being worked on.

Storage

Storage is used by the computer when it is powered on or off to hold software applications and documents until they are actively needed, at which point they are loaded into memory.

Ram

Random Access Memory or RAM chips are used to provide a computer with working memory.

Hard Disk

A Hard disk is used to provide a computer with storage for applications and files.

External Hard Disk

An external disk is connected to a computer to make a backup copy of information on the computer's hard disk, or to restore information to the computer's hard disk. An external hard disk can also be used to transfer large files between to computers or as an online 'caching' device intended to speed up digital audio, digital video and other media editing applications.

External Cartridge

External Cartridges are used to provide backup space for a computer, a role now best filled by recordable CD. Most external cartridges are expensive, too small to hold image, audio and video information and can be unreliable, especially in the class room environment. DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY

Audio Monitor

Audio monitors are speakers that reproduce sound as accurately as possible without enhancing or degrading the quality.

Computer Monitor

A Computer monitor is used to view non-interlaced images generated by a computer.

Video Monitor

A video monitor is used to view interlaced video images like those on television, or video tape.

CRT

A Cathode Ray Tube is a large vacuum tube with a directional electron gun on one side, and a face of luminescent phosphors on the other. The electron gun is rapidly scanned across the face of the tube to carefully illuminate individual phosphors to create an image. Look very closely at you TV.

LCD

A Liquid Crystal Display uses small transistors to switch individual liquid crystals arrayed within a high resolution grid and in front of a backlight to create an image. LCDs are the presently the basis for most flat panel displays and laptop computer screens. An LCD based screen typically is a lot more efficient than a CRT based screen using much less energy and generating far less heat.

CD

Compact Discs are used to hold digital music and the can also be used to distribute and store other types of digital information.

PhotoCD

A PhotoCD is currently the most cost effective way to acquire and store photographic quality still images. PhotoCDs are inexpensively made and sold by Kodak when you send your 35mm film in for development.

PictureCD

A PictureCD is used to acquire and store still images of non-photographic quality at ten times the cost of a PhotoCD. PictureCDs are made by Kodak or at your local camera shop. DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY.

Digital Camera

A Digital Camera is used to acquire a photographic image directly in digital format without requiring film, or film to be developed. Only the most expensive digital cameras take photographic quality images. Consumer grade digital cameras selling for less than $1000.00 simply do not take photographic quality images. DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY.

Disposable Camera

A Disposable Camera is used to acquire high quality photographic images in digital format at very low cost. Disposable cameras with 27 exposures are available for about $5.00 and some are even enclosed in a waterproof housing for beach and snorkle use. It takes less than one week for Kodak to develop the film from a disposable camera and return a PhotoCD.

Digital Video Camera

Digital Video Cameras are used to acquire broadcast quality video images as well as non photographic quality still images intended for use in a video production or on a computer screen. The Still Photo function provided by most Digital Video cameras provides images of approximately the same quality as a Digital Camera, obviating the need to also purchase a Digital Camera. Often the lens and zoom features of a Digital Video Camera surpass those present in Digital Cameras.

Laser Printer

A Laser Printer is a high speed, high resolution document and image printer. Laser printers are available in black and white as well as color versions.

Ink Jet Printer

An Ink Jet Printer is a relatively low speed, high resolution document and image printer. Ink Jet printers typically have one or more black, and color ink cartridges. Be aware of the relatively high cost associated with replacing ink cartridges.

CD-Audio

A Compact Disc that is formatted to hold audio and can be played in any consumer CD player or CD WalkMan or in a computer.

CD-ROM

A Compact Disc that is formatted to hold text, images, sound and video. This is the best type of storage media format for use with computers in the class room.

CD-R

A Compact Disc that is recordable. This is the best type of storage media for use with computers in the class room.

CD-RW

A Compact Disc that is recordable and rewritable. This type of CD can be erased and overwritten. Some people consider this a feature, many people feel that this defeats the inherent reliability of a recordable CD than can not be accidently overwritten. Blank CD-RW disks tend to be more expensive than blank CD-R CDs and generally are not useful for class room purposes.

DVD

Digital Video Disc or Digital Versatile Disc is typically used for distributing feature length films, however it may also be used to hold text, image, or audio information like a very large CD.

DV

DV, digital video is a high quality video format supported by many affordable, high performance cameras, computers and post production software applications.

Compression

Compression is used to try to reduce the amount of space necessary to represent text, images, audio and video information.

Decompression

Deompression is used to try to recreate original text, images, audio and video information that has been previously compressed.

Color Model

There are several ways of representing color information within an image including the additive and subtractive models known as RGB or CMYK. An additive color model combines primary colors together to create the various colors of the spectrum. A subtractive color model combines primary colors together to reflect the various colors of the spectrum from a white light source.

RGB

The RGB acronym is used to represent the three primary colors Red, Green, Blue used by this additive color model.

CMYK

The CMYK acronym is used to represent the four primary colors Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black used by this subtractive color model.

USB

Universal Serial Bus is a set of interface standards including certain types of connectors and cables used to connect many different kinds of peripheral attachments to a computer.

Firewire

Firewire is a set of interface standards including certain types of connectors and cables used to connect many different kinds of peripheral attachments to a computer.

iLink

iLink is a set of interface standards including certain types of connectors and cables also known as Firewire.

SCSI

Small Computer Serial Interface is a set of interface standards including certain types of connectors and cables used to connect many different kinds of peripheral attachments to a computer.

LAN, Local Area Network

A LAN or Local Area Network is used to connect computers, printers, cd recorders and scanners together so that files and resources can be shared quickly and efficiently. A properly running Local Area Network eliminates the costly requirement for floppy disks, external disk peripherals, or printers for attached to each computer in the class room.

Ethernet

A fast type of Local Area Network recommended for the class room. Ethernet is available at two speeds, known as 10BaseT and 100BaseT which is ten times faster. Make sure your Ethernet is configured to run at the full 100BaseT speed.

Airport

An Airport Basestation is used to allow computers and notebooks configured with a wireless access card also known as an Airport card to connect to a Local Area Network and share files, printers, computers and other peripherals.

Internet

The protocol used to connect together all the individual local area networks in operation around the world. A person using a computer connected to their Local Area Network can access information on a computer on another Local Area Network, through the Internet.